Back By Popular Demand

There is a rise of Marxism in the US, and now it has infected the small town of Stuart. But this is no overnight phenomenon; it's been years in the making.

Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Reagan recognized the slow erosion of the human will in society. A disease that consumes over time. We widely acknowledge the spread of socialist ideas within the Democratic Party and recognize their push for more government control. However, the real threat has been lurking in the Republican Party, right under our noses.

Infiltrating local politics here in Martin County, nearly all the committees and organizations have joined together to preserve their grip on regional policies. You often see the same names appearing together. Most of them have the audacity to call themselves Republicans, led by prominent figures.

The Martin County oligarchy wants to stay isolated, keep its members united, refuse new membership, and maintain total control. This kind of cronyism weakens conservative values, and Marxist ideas gain traction. As one philosophy grows, the other diminishes.

True conservatives support not just a smaller government but the minimal government necessary. Instead of working together toward a common goal, protecting the oligarchy and their political supremacy has become the main focus because they know they have betrayed the voters and struggle to accept they're no longer supported.

The firing of the city manager, one of their own, has provoked outrage and panic as political dominance is challenged. Reality is sinking in now that the public recognizes these RINOs for who they truly are. Their own positions are at risk as voters grow tired of feeling unrepresented.

Ted Astolfi, CEO of the Economic Council of Martin County, asked state Sen. Gayle Harrell and state Reps. Toby Overdorf and John Snyder request that Gov. Ron DeSantis remove city commissioners Christopher Collins, Laura Giobbi, and Sean Reed, as they cannot be defeated any other way. A move straight out of the communist manifesto. What's worse is that our elected officials would agree and participate in this kind of anti-American behavior.

Toby Overdorf is leading the effort to lobby the governor. He is notably shortsighted, failing to see the consequences of his actions; he is not listening to his constituents and is only kowtowing to his inner circle.

Recently, the Martin County Realtors of the Treasure Coast, the Martin County Taxpayers Association, the Martin County Chapter of the NAACP, the Treasure Coast Builders Association, and the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce united as one group to oppose Stuart’s involvement in the lawsuit against the state’s overreaching SB 180. This stance conflicts with what we'd typically expect from conservative leadership. The very individuals we believe will stand up for us surrender easily, giving in without a fight. All because they cannot align themselves with the “rebel” commissioners. Only concerned with their own experiences in their bubble, they are utterly unaware of the public's wants and needs.

Other newsletters supposedly run by Republicans use their platforms as propaganda to praise the government’s takeover and control of county authority, aiming to influence public opinion. Rick Hartman, who manages One Martin, and Tom Campenni, who manages Friends and Neighbors, both consistently use gaslighting tactics to criticize Stuart’s bold decision to oppose SB 180. They must align with the cabal to stay in good standing.

Conservatives also believe in lower taxes, yet all but one of the Republican-led Martin County Board of Commissioners have consistently voted to raise taxes. Do

The branding and rhetoric have changed: The term “socialist” is increasingly not just used as a pejorative but embraced by some left-leaning politicians and movements.

Figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have brought “socialism” into mainstream political discourse in ways that decades ago would have been considered fringe. The open acceptance of socialist identity makes it more prominent. Among Democrats, comfort with socialism has grown, while among Republicans, the negative view should remain widely held. So why is the ideological divide shifting among the Martin County Republican political elite? It goes back to what Reagan said and our forefathers practiced. Freedom must be fought for, not just when the fight is at our doorstep, but in everyday decisions and policies.

While a major structural overhaul is unlikely overnight, it becomes more feasible when public sentiment pushes back.

Every election feels like the most important of our lives because of the ongoing battle between competing ideologies. The past no longer matters, and the future depends on what we do today. Therefore, any current election is the most important of our lives.